Suction cleaner



Oct. 31, 1939.

c. H. TAYLOR SUCTION CLEANER Filed Sept. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l6/zarles bf Tag [0r 5. Mad/ ATTO RN EY Oct. 31, 1939. v TAYLOR 2,178,006

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Sept. 28, 1936 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORCfiarles E 729 101 BY a? ATTORN E Y Patented Oct. 31, 1939 REISSUE JUL211942 Oharles H. Taylor, Northcanton, or to The. Hoover Company,

Ohio, assim- North Canton,

Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application September 28, 1936, Serial No.102,899

11 Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in suction cleaners and moreparticularly to an improved nozzle height adjustment mechanism forregulatingthe heightof the nozzle of a suction 5 cleaner above thesurface of the carpet to be cleaned. 7

Without entering into a full discussion of the subjectof nozzle heightadjustment, it may be stated that the performance of a suction cleaner10 will vary materially on difierent grades of carpet and chieflybecause of the variation-in the thickness and texture of the pile.Heretofore, it has been common practice to regulate the nozzle height bya manual adjusting device, whereby the turning of a knob in onedirection or the other raises or lowers, as thecase may be, the front orrear supporting wheels, thereby tilting the body of the cleaner to thedesired nozzle height.

This same adjusting operation may be accomplished automatically bymechanism which functions by merely operating a lever, whereupon thenozzle is raised to the proper height for a particular floor covering.An automatic nozzle 25 height adjusting mechanism functioning inthemanner just stated, is the subject matter of an earlierapplication'filed by me on August 15, 1936,

and bearing Serial Number 96,222.

The object of the present invention is to im- 30 prove somewhat upon themechanism of the earlier disclosure by utilizing the cleaner handle asan operating lever, thus making it possible to make the adjustment bymoving the handle through a predetermined are or to and from' a 35certain position, and preferably one not occupied by the handle duringthe normal operation of the cleaner, as for example, its extreme upwardand forward position.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in theaccompanying drawing in which: Figure l is a view in side elevation of asuction cleaner with a-portion of the side wall broken away to show thenozzle adjusting mechanism of the handle advanced to its forwardmostposition preparatory to operating the "nozzle adjusting mechanism. I

Figure 2 is.a bottom plan view of the cleaner casing;

Figure 3 is Figure l repeated, but with the handle and nozzle heightadjusting mechanism 7 in the position in which the nozzle is resting incontact with the carpet surface. a

Figure 4 is a detailed view in vertical section 5 taken on line.44 ofFigure 1, and

v(Cl. 15-16) Figure 5 is adetailed view taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring to the cleaner in its general aspects, the same comprises amain casing I, having a vnozzle portion 2, extending transversely of its5 forward end and having the form of an elongated chamber with adownwardly facing opening. The casing extends rearwardly from the nozzleportion, gradually converging to a rearwardly opening flanged outletconnection 3 to which is attached a dirt receptacle in the form of afabric bag 4. Centrally of the casing I is a circular fan chamber 5,visible from the. underside there'- of, and enclosing a fan 6, havingdirect driving connection with a motor (not shown) enclosed within adome-like cover or hood I surmounting the casing l. The inlet to the fanchamber has the form of a circular opening or eye 5a, located centrallyof the bottom wall of the fanchamber and" concentric with the verticalaxis of the fan and its driving motor. Surrounding the rear half of thefan eye 50 and extending forwardly towards the nozzle portion 2, with aslight outward flare is a depending wall 8 curving abruptly through aright angle as it approaches the nozzle and forming the rear wallthereof at its outer ends. This depending wall forms the sides of apassage extending forwardly and communicating with the interior ofthenozzle 2, said passage being closed at itsbottom'by a plate 9, having anupwardly facing marginal groove bearing against the bottom edge of thewall 8 and suitably lined with a resilient material to form an air tightseal. This bottom plate 9 is shaped to conform with the outline of thewall 8, and preferably comprises, as an integral part thereof, thebottom section of the nozzle portion 2, consisting of a pair of parallellibs 9a, 9a, connected at their ends by means of a pair of end lips 9b,92). These lips form the relatively wide suction mouth leading to thenozzle chamber immediately above and in which is located a rotatingagitator l0, consisting of a cylindric shell having'brush elements Illa,Illa, arranged lengthwise thereof and helically arranged beater elementsIllb, I 0b. The bottom plate 9 is removble to uncover the nozzlecha-mherand the passage leading rearwardly therefrom, being detachably held inplace by a suitable latch member I l at the. extreme rear end ofthebottom plate. Also enclosed within the passage from the nozzle chambertothe fan chamber is a, drive belt l2 engaging a pulley I3 carried atthe lower end of the fan 6' and extendingforwardly therefrom engagesfapulley groove llc midway between the endsof the agitator l0 andimmediately above a guard member l4, extending transversely of thesuction mouth, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

Again referring to the main casing I, with its centrally disposedcircular fan chamber 5, it will be noted that along the edges of thecasing and extending rearwardly from the ends of the nozzle 2 aredepending curvilinear walls la, la, and between these depending marginalwalls la, la, and the outer side walls of the fan chamber 5, arecavities or hollow spaces l5 which have a depth substantially equal tothe height of the casing I itself. It is within these cavities enclosedby the marginal side walls la, la, of the casing, that is located thewheeled support for the casing as well as the nozzle adjusting mechanismassociated therewith.

The cleaner casing I is supported upon a wheeled frame or carriage onwhich are mounted a pair of carrier wheels I8, 15 and a pair of rearcarriers l1, H. The frame of the carriage is a U-shaped casting l8,pivotally connected centrally of its base portion in a bearing bracketl9 depending from the underside of the fan chamber 5, by means of atransverse pivot pin 20. Extending rearwardly from the pivotal bearingof the frame 18 is a bracket 2| which supports an axle 22 extendingtransversely thereof and carrying at its outer ends the rear casterwheels I1, I1.

Now, from the point of pivotal connection of the frame member l8 withthe underside of the casing l, the lateral extremities thereof curveforwardly within the cavities l5 between the wall of the fan chamber andthe outer marginal walls la, l a, of casing l, terminating justrearwardly of the nozzle portion 2, in the form of fork members 23, 23in which the front wheels l8, l8 are supported, the same beingjournalled on bearing shafts 24, 24, at the ends of said fork members.

Carried by the chassis It just rearwardly of and above the front wheelsupporting members 23, 23 is an inverted U-shaped bail member 25 whichforms the lower extremity of the handle of the cleaner and, straddlingthe dome-like cover 1, projects through longitudinal slots 25, 26 in thetop wall of the casing l with its ends pivotally connected to hearingbosses 21, 2! integral with the innermost portion of the chassis framel8 and projecting laterally and inwardly therefrom (Figure 4). Thus thecleaner handle is carried by the wheeled chassis and quite independentlyof the casing l.

Associated with the handle bail 25 and located adjacent its positioncontrol device which serves to restrain the handle from free swingingmovement and to yieldingly hold it in its extreme positions as well asto define its intermediate position or working range. This positioncontrol device is already in common use, therefore need not be fullydescribed herein, although the essential parts thereof may be identifiedand .located. Thus, a cam sector 28 is mounted at the lower end of thehandle bail 25 and projecting therebeyond presents a downwardly facingarcuate edge on which are formed three notches, the endmost notchescorresponding to the extreme positions of the handle and theintermediate notch being somewhat elongated, corresponding to theintermediate working range. Contacting the notch edge of the sector 28is a cam roller pivotal connection with the corresponding end of theU-shaped frame l8 andshown near the bottom of Figure 2, is a handle .endto a 1118 31 28 carried at the end of a bell-crank lever 30 pivotallysupported intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 3| carried by thecarriage frame l8 with its bearing portion projecting laterally inwardfrom the end thereof. The bell-crank lever is acted upon by .acompression spring (not shown) suitably supported upon the carriageframe l8 and serving to hold the cam roller in yielding contact with thehandle position control sector 28.

Referring now to the automatic nozzle height adjusting mechanism, thesame is interposed between the frame I 8 and the lower end of a bracket33 fixed to the underside of the casing just rearwardly of the nozzleportion and directly above one of the front wheels l6, namely, theuppermost wheel as shown in Figure 2. This bracket consists of a flatarm projecting downwardly with a slight rearward curvature,

-its lower end terminating just inside of the wheel supporting fork 23and just rearwardly of the journal pin 24.

However, there is no direct connection between the bracket 33 and thechassis frame I8, but rather an indirect connection through a ratchetsector 34 having pivotal mounting on an extension 24a of the bearing pin24 projecting inwardly beyond the wheel fork 23 as clearly shown inFigure 2. The ratchet sector 34 has the form of an elongated triangularshaped plate with its apex pivoted on the bearing extension 24a andextending rearwardly therefrom diverges to form an arcuate toothedsector alon its rear edge, This ratchet sector swings in a verticalplane and has pivotal connection intermediate its end somewhat near itsapex, with the end of the bracket 33, the latter carrying a laterallyprojecting pin 33a adjacent its lower end engages a short slot 34aformed in the ratchet sector 34. With this arrangement it is apparentthat the ratchet sector forms connecting link or toggle between thecasing and the chassis and that by imparting a rocking movement to theratchet sector a reduced rocking or tilting movement of the casing onits chassis will be produced.

Now, journaledupon the same bearing shaft 24 with the ratchet sector 34is a lever 35, extending rearwardly just inside the ratchet sector 34 ina substantially horizontal direction and provided at its rear end with afoot pedal 35a projecting laterally from beneath the lower edge of themarginal wall Id of the casing I. This lever 35 is normally held againstdownward movement by a relatively stiff coil spring 36 attached at oneend to the lever just forwardly of its pedal extremity 35a and extendingvertically upward, is anchored v at its upper depending from the underside of the chassis frame l8 immediately above.

Andfinally, a pawl 38 is pivotally mounted on the operating lever 35substantially intermediate its ends and in the plane of the ratchetsector 34. A laterally projecting pin 39 supports the pawl 38which,.extending in a general upward and forward direction, is providedat its end with several teeth 38a, complementing the teeth of theratchet sector 34. A torsion spring 40, coiled around the pivot pin 39with one end hooked over a projection on the lower edge of the operatinglever 35 andthe other end around the back edge of the pawl 38 as clearlyshown" in Figure 1, acts to yieldingly hold the pawl in engagement withthe ratchet sector 34.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, there will be seen immediately above thepawl 38, an arm 4| depending from the under side of the chassis framei8, and along the inner side of the pawl, said arm carrying a laterallyprojecting pin 42 engaging a somewhat triangular shaped slot 38b locatedin the central portion of the pawl 38. This pin and slot connectionserves to impart a cam action to the pawl, throwing it into and out oiengagement I with the ratchet sector 34.; More particularly the pawl asit shifts upwardly and downwardly with the operating lever 35.

The operation of the nozzle adjusting mechanism will be understood fromthe following discussion:

Let it be assumed that the cleaner has been wheeled onto a carpetpreparatory to operation thereon and that the nozzle is elevated abovethe carpet surface as shown in Figure 1. To'obtain the correct settingthe operator merely depresses the lever 35 to its fullest extent andupon releasing it the nozzle of the cleaner is automatically adjusted tothe proper height regardless of pre-- vious setting.

The automatic action will now be described in detail: .When the lever 35is depressed from the substantially horizontal position shown in Figure1 to the position shown in Figure 3; the first step is the disengagingof the pawl 38 from the ratchet sector 34', by the cam action of thestationary pin 42 in the slot 38b of the pawl 38. Now, immediately uponthe release of the ratchet sector 34 Gil by the pawl, the entire forwardend of the cleaner casing l is free to tilt downwardly until the suctionmouth of the nozzle rests flush upon the carpet surface, for obviously,havingreleased the ratchet sector 34 the casing can tilt freely aboutits pivot on the chassis I8 and, the greater mass of the cleaner beingforwardly of the pivotal axis the nozzle simply drops into contact withthe carpet surface; k

But an important point to be noted here is, that the bottom surface ofthe nozzle being made up of wide lips surrounding the suction mouth,affords a relatively large contact surface and of such area that whenthe nozzle is lowered into contact with the surface of a carpet or rugits extendedarea does not cause any appreciable penetration of the pile,whereas-the wheels may sink to the full depth of the pile. Thus theplane established by the nozzle resting upon the carpet pile is not onlyabove that established by the wheels, but, regardless of the characterof the carpet, the base from which the adjustment takes place is alwaysthe plane of contact of the nozzle upon the upstanding carpet fibers andis fixed regardless of I the depth of wheel penetration.

Now, the relative displacement of the chassis l8 and the cleaner casingI in the initial movement of thelever 35, is reflected in a slightlyreater or less angular displacement of the ratchet sector 34 after ithas been released by the pawl 38, this displacement represented by anarc of one or more of the ratchet teeth as the downward movement of thenozzle portion of the casing is venient.

"of my invention, 1 claim:

. 3 transmitted thereto through the bracket 33. But with the release ofthe lever 35, the spring 36 acts to retract it to its normal position,the upward movement of the lever first throwing the pawl 38 intoengagement with the ratchet sector 34, swinging it upwardly in acounter-clockwise direction and lifting the casing to elevate the nozzleto its proper height.

And finally, this upward lifting orelevation of the nozzle is previouslydetermined for a particular type and style of cleaner and is constantregardless of varying surface conditions. For example, if of an inch ispredetermined as the proper nozzle height setting for a particularcleaner'the adjusting mechanism is designed to raise the nozzle thisdistance above the surface of the carpet pile regardless of the type orcharacter of the carpet.

Thus, it will be seen that the adjustment is accomplished by merelypressing downwardly on the foot operated pedal or lever and now will bedescribed the interconnection between the handle ball 25 and theoperating lever 35 whereby the same adjustment can be accomplished bymerely shifting the handle through a predeterminedarc of movement. Y

Referring to Figures 1 and 4 a bladelike cam member 43 forms anextension of the end of the handle bail projecting downwardly beyond itsbearing 21 on the. chassis l8, adjacent the nozzle height adjustingmechanism. As shown in side elevation in Figure 1 this cam divergesslightly toward its lower end and terminates in rounded .corners and aV-shaped cam projection 43a located substantially centrally of itsbottom edge.

Carried by the foot operated lever 35 and projecting laterally therefromat a short distance from its pivoted end, is a pin 44 adapted to havecontact with the lower edge of the cam 43. As shownin Figure 1, thehandle ball 25, of which the main portion of the handle may beconsidered as an extension thereof, assumes a general vertical positionbut more definitely at an angle slightly beyond and forwardly of thevertical. This position is one into which the handle may be moved whenthe cleaner is not in operation and is termed storage position, beingheld therein by the handle position control device heretofore described.In this position of the handle it will be noted that the contact pin 44carried by the foot lever 35 bears against the lower edge of the cam 43just ahead of the pointed cam projec-' 'tion 43a. Obviously then, if thehandle is swung in a rearward direction into the position shown inFigure 3, the cam projection 43a will tend to pass over the pin 44 andin so doing will depress the operating lever 35 into the same positionthat it would occupy when depressed by the pressure of the operatorsfoot. Thus it follows, that the nozzle adjusting mechanism will respondto the depression of the lever 35 by foot operation in the mannerpreviously described, or by swinging the handle so as to carry the camprojection 43a over and beyond the contact pin 44. Manifestly, the

foot pedal 35a might readily be removed entirely from the lever 35 sothat it becomes a cam follower acting only through the swinging movementof, the handle. By retaining the pedal, however,

it is possible to adjust the nozzle height either by foot or by hand asthe user may find more conv Having thus set fortha preferred embodimentpermitting a limited tilting movement thereof, a handle pivotallymounted on said support, a link connecting said support with said bodyand provided with a ratchet sector, a spring-pressed pawl normallyengaging said ratchet sector, a lever carrying said pawl and havingoperative connection with said handle whereby the swinging movementthereof through a predetermined arc in one direction actuates said pawlto release said ratchet sector, permitting said nozzle to drop intocontact with the surface of the floor covering to be cleaned and in theopposite direction to effect the re-engagement of said ratchet sector bysaid pawl and the elevation of said nozzle to a predetermined heightabove the floor surface.

2. In a suction cleaner having a body provided with a nozzle and awheeled support connected with said body for relative verticaladjustment, a handle pivotally mounted on said support to swingrelatively to said body, a link connecting said body with said supportand shiftable to raise and lower said nozzle, means normally holdingsaid link against shifting movement including a pawl and ratchet device,a lever pivotally mounted on said support and having operativeconnection with said pawl and ratchet device and with said handlewhereby the swinging of said handle through a predetermined arc ofmovementsuccessively actuates said pawl and ratchet device to releasesaid link and effect the droppin of said nozzle into contact with thefloor surface and to re-engage said link and actuate the same to raisesaid nozzle to a predetermined height above said floor surface.

3. In a suction cleaner having a body provided with a nozzle, a wheeledsupport connected with said body for relative vertical adjustment, ahandle pivotally mounted on said support to swing relatively to saidbody, an adjustable link connecting said body with said support andshiftable to raise and lower said nozzle, means normally holding saidlink against shifting movement including a spring-pressed cam-actuatedpawl adapted to engage ratchet teeth on said link, a spring-actuatedlever pivotally mounted on said support adjacent said link and carryingsaid pawl, said lever having operative connection with said handlewhereby the swinging of said handle through a predetermined arc ofmovement successively disengages said pawl from said ratchet teeth topermit said nozzle to drop into contact with the floor surface andreengages said pawl with said ratchet teeth to raise said nozzle to apredetermined height above said floor surface.

4. In a suction cleanerhaving a casing provided with a nozzle, and awheeled support having pivotal connection with said casing, a handlepivotally mounted on said support to swing relative to said casing, anadjustable link connecting said wheel support and casing and operativeto raise and lower the nozzle relative to the floor, and aspring-pressed cam actuated member mounted on said support and normallyengaging said link to hold the same in a given position of nozzle heightadjustment and operatively connected with said handle successively todisengage said link to effect the lowering of said nozzle into contactwith the carpet surface and to reengage said link'to elevate said nozzleto a predetermined height above said carpet surface in the swingingmovement of said handle through a predetermined arc.

5. In a suction cleaner havin a cum; provided with a nozzle and awheeled support having pivotal connection with said casing, a handlepivotally mounted, on said support, and means for adjusting said casingrelative to said support to vary the height of the nozzle above thecarpet surface, comprising a ratchet sector adjustably connecting saidwheeled support with said casing and adapted to swing in oppositedirections to raise and lower the nozzle relative to the carpet surface,a lever pivotally mounted on said support adjacent said ratchet sector,and a springpressed cam-actuated pawl carried by said lever and normallyengaging said ratchet sector to hold said nozzle in a given position ofadjustment, said lever being operatively connected with said handlewhereby said ratchet sector is released by said pawl to eifect thelowering of said nozzle into contact with the carpet surface, thence toelevate said nozzle above said carpet surface in the swinging movementof said handle through a predetermined arc.

6. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with a nozzle and awheeled support having pivotal connection therewith and means foradjusting the height of said nozzle above the surface to be cleanedcomprising an adjustable link connecting said support with said casingindependently of said pivotal connection and having a toothed sectorformed thereon, a handle pivotally mounted on said support, a lever alsopivot-' allymounted on said support and operatively connected with saidhandle, a spring pressed cam actuated pawl carried by said lever andnormally having engagement with said sector, said pawl acting todisengage said sector in the swinging movement of said handle in onedirection to permit said nozzle to be lowered into contact with thecarpet surface and to reengage said sector to effect the raising of saidnozzle a predetcrmined distance above said surface during a subsequentmovement of said handle.

7. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided.with a nozzle and awheeled support having pivotal connection therewith, a handle pivotallymounted on said support, and nozzle height adjusting means comprisingadjustable link connecting said casing and said support independently oftheir pivotal connection and having a toothed sector, a lever pivotallymounted on said support adjacent said link, a spring-pressed camactuatedpawl pivoted on said lever and normally engaging said sector to holdsaid link against movement, and a cam member carried by said handle andadapted to impart a 'cam action to said lever whereby said ratchetsector is successively disengaged by said pawl to permit said nozzle todrop into contact with the carpet surface and to be reengaged by saidpawl to effect the raising of said nozzle to a predetermined heightabove the carpet surface during a predetermined'swinging movement ofsaid handle.

8. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with a nozzle portionand a wheeledsupport pivotally connected to the underside of saidcasing, a handle pivotally mounted on, said support independently ofsaid casing, and means for adjusting said casing relative to saidwheeled support to vary the height of said nozzle above the surface ofthe carpet to be cleaned, comprising pawl and ratchet mechanismadjustably connecting said support with said casing and-including alever shiftable in one direction to disengage said pawl and ratchet topermit said nozzle to drop into contact with the carpet surface and inthe opposite direction to re-engage said pawl and ratchet mechanismraise said nozzle to a predetermined height above said carpet surface,and means operatively connecting said lever with said handle.

9. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with a nozzle portion,a wheeled support pivotally connected to the underside of said casing, ahandle pivotally mounted on said support independently of said casingand means for adjusting said casing relative to said -wheeled support tovary the height of said nozzle above the surface of the carpet to becleaned, comprising pawl and ratchet mechanism adjustably connectingsaid support with said casing and including a spring-pressed levershiftable in one direction by contact with a cam carried by said handleto disengage said pawl and ratchet mechanism and allow said nozzle todrop into contact with the carpet surface and in the opposite directionwhen released by said cam to re-engage said pawl and ratchet mechanismand elevate said nozzle to a predetermined height above said carpetsurface.

10. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with a nozzle portionand a wheeled support including a frame pivotally connected to theunderside of said casing and having wheels journaled thereon, a handlepivotally mounted on said frame, and means for adjusting said casingrelative to said wheeled support to vary the height of said nozzle abovethe surface of the carpet to be cleaned, comprising pawl and ratchetmechanism adjustably connecting said casing and said frame remote fromits pivotal connection with said casing, and including a spring pressedlever for actuating said pawl and ratchet mechanism, said handle andlever having coacting cam members for shifting said lever in a directionto eflect the dropping of said nozzle into contact with the carpetsurface in the disengagement of said pawl and ratchet mechanism and withthe movement of said handle in one direction, and to release said leverto effect re-engagement of said pawl and ratchet mechanism and theelevation of said nozzle to a predetermined height above said carpetsurface in the movement of the handle in another direction.

11. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with a nozzle portionand a wheeled sup port for said casing including a supporting framepivotally connected to the underside of said casing and having wheelsjournaled thereon, a handle pivotally mounted on said supporting frame,and means for adjusting said casing relative to said wheeled support tovary the height of said nozzle above the surface of the carpet to becleaned, comprising a link connecting said casing with said supportingframe remote from its pivotal connection therewith and provided with atoothed sector, a lever pivotally mounted on said wheeled support, aspring pressed pawl mounted on said lever and normally adapted to havetoothed engagement with said sector, means acting to shift said pawl torelease said sector during the movement of said lever in a direction tolower said nozzle into contact with the carpet surface and to reengagesaid sector at the commencement of the return movement of the lever toeffect the elevation of said nozzle to a predetermined height above saidcarpet surface, tension means acting on said lever to impart thereturnmovement thereto, and acam carried by said handle and adapted toengage a cam member'on said lever for actuating the same...

emu-men. TAYLOR,

